| Summary: | Mikrocytids are a widespread but rather neglected group of parasites of aquatic invertebrates. One such parasite is <i>Paramikrocytos canceri</i>—discovered to infect the antennal gland of the juvenile edible crab, <i>Cancer pagurus</i>, taken from several intertidal sites across the United Kingdom. To determine if this parasite is also present in other species of decapod crustaceans, we surveyed crabs (<i>n</i> = 330) across two contrasting sites in Pembrokeshire (UK). Using a histopathological approach, <i>P. canceri</i> infection was confirmed in variable numbers of edible crabs from both survey sites, 7%−44%. No measurable signs of infection were encountered in four other co-located species, including European shore crabs (<i>Carcinus maenas</i>), Montagu’s crabs (<i>Xantho hydrophilus</i>), velvet swimming crabs (<i>Necora puber</i>) and broad-clawed porcelain crabs (<i>Porcellana platycheles</i>). These data imply that <i>P. canceri</i> has a more limited host range than suggested by molecular diagnosis alone.
|
|---|